ONEIDA -- When rivals square off in any sport, it's often said you can throw the records out the window.

Such was the case in the first half when Oneida and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill squared off in a boys basketball game Tuesday. However, Oneida pulled away in the second half for a 66-50 victory over VVS.

"I though we rebounded well in the second half," said Oneida coach Jeff Didio, who picked up his 99th career victory. "Tyler Kuhn and Matt Carinci had some rebounds that led to easy baskets. Defensively, the overall performance was better in the second half."

Oneida (1-3, 6-4) was in control for the first quarter, beating VVS (1-9) to nearly every loose ball. Carinci scored a pair of baskets early to get the hosts out to a 6-0 lead. Alex Saville answered with a pair to cut the lead to 6-5, but Oneida went on a 13-3 run to end the quarter and Kyle Peck led the way with eight points.

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The second quarter was a different story.

With the Red Devils outhustling Oneida for much of the frame. Matt McCoy got things rolling for the visitors with a 3-pointer from the right corner. Moments later the junior grabbed an offensive rebound and found Christian Tiffin for a lay-up to cut Oneida's lead to six. Then it was Dalton Cousin putting the Red Devils on his back. He scored 10 of VVS' 15 points in the frame, including the final six, to cut Oneida's lead to 27-23 at the half.

Oneida started the second half running and extended the lead back to 11 midway through the frame. Peck converted two free throws after a foul on a breakaway and made a layup moments later during the 12-5 run. A pair of Tiffin baskets in the closing minutes of the quarter allowed VVS to trailing just 48-37 entering the final period.

A pair of Brendan Didio free throws and a basket by Carinci quickly extended the lead to 15 and Oneida never looked back. Peck added seven points in the frame and finished with a game-high 22. Cousin led the visitors with 19.